BOUNTY: HOLIDAY HELPERS

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Who: Darin Altway, Princess Zelda, and YOU
Status: Open
Where: EVERYWHERE! How? ChristmasWinterstide Magic!
What: Darin and Zelda have learned what Winterstide is all about and are making sure everyone gets presents
Warnings: Mariah Carey Intensifies

1 PREPARATIONS - Closed to Zelda

Can you believe they put a damn bounty on our heads?? All we're trying to do is give treats and spread some cheer!

[There's really no telling whose idea this was. When Darin and Zelda get excited about something together, there's really no stopping them. They build off of each other's energy until the result is...well. This. Darin dressed like an alarmingly buff elf and Zelda dressed in an adorably appropriate outfit, stuffing assorted gifts and treats into a large sack in the living room of their new house. They've been at this for a couple of nights now and Darin never would have guessed that a bounty would be put on their heads. But instead of backing down and letting capitalism rule the holiday, he's doubling down. That's right, they're waging a war on Christmas Winterstide.]

You know, you don't have to come with me. Your recall ability is useful but if someone tries to catch us...I don't want your good name being dragged through the mud because I don't know when to quit.

[Said as if she, too, is capable of knowing when to quit.]

2 UP ON THE ROOFTOP - OPEN

[Wherever it is you call home, whether it's an apartment, a cottage, or your very own island, whether you live out in the middle of nowhere or keep your home trapped and locked up like a vault, these two Winterstide Wonders will find some way to leave you something. Don't ask how they got in (it's either literal recall magic, brute idiot magic, or some combination of two) but you'll find a homemade gift, courtesy of a master smith and some hilariously shaped "sword" cookies courtesy of a princess. They're trying to be as quiet as they can be, but there's a chance you might catch them laying out their presents or making a daring escape! Do you chase after them? Call the authorities? Claim the bounty for yourself?]

[Or you could join in on the fun. The more the merrier, after all!]

3 DASH AWAY ALL - OPEN

[Okay, so Darin's not exactly the best when it comes to security systems. Apparently breaking one just kinda sets it off. The more you know, right? Except now they're on the run from people who don't take too kindly to breaking and entering, even if it's done with "good intentions."]

[It's not especially late, but these holiday hoodlums are looking for a place to lay low. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop is a little too conspicuous and their ridiculous getups don't exactly allow them to blend in. It'd be a Winterstide miracle if someone could find a manger, or something comparable, to hide these two in!]

(OOC: If you would like to specify a turn order, wish to tag one character over the other, or you're okay with a threadjacking free-for-all, please don't hesitate to say so in the comments! And if you're still not sure, feel free to reach out to either Ant bitterbearface or Jen knighted! All that matters is that everyone has fun! Happy Holidays!)

Comments

Up On The Rooftop

[minorinpain]

Nappa's abode, such as it is, is a dusty old attic he's managed to claim for himself, unused and difficult without flying. A few crates tossed together into a makeshift table, with the remains of a fairly sizeable meal (it's mostly meat) and a few chairs of different makes haphazardly tossed together, and weirdly what looks like a sack of lettuce or something next to a crate and that's all she wrote.

The big Saiyan is asleep in a cot on a loft further up, likely once used for other storage. There was a ladder, but the broken remains of it tossed in a corner show that Nappa wasn't a fan of other people being able to get up to where he sleeps. And he definitely is asleep. You can tell by the snores. A cat, a ratty-looking street tom with reddish fur, is curled up on top of a nearby crate. An eye opens lazily, then closes, unbothered.

Seems like it's an easy in and out job, whatever they feel inclined to leave for him...until the "bag of lettuce" rustles and two beady red eyes stare out at them, tiny claws gripping the bag's edge.

The Saibamen cocks its head curiously. "Gya-gya?"

[forgeabettertomorrow]

'Man, who the hell lives in an attic' thinks the man who, until recently, wanted to sleep in a hammock in his bedroom. Darin doesn't have any idea who the hell is up here but whoever they are, they're getting some questionably shaped cookies and a nice, finely crafted tool set.

Darin attempts to set the items down in a place where they'll be easily seen but freezes when the lettuce in the old sack seems to be looking at him.

Which causes him to freeze in place.

Darin cautiously raises a finger to his lips in a 'shushing' gesture because WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!?!?!

[multidisciplinary]

Zelda used to give Darin grief about living like a bachelor, but this place makes his old apartment look like perfectly respectable. Maybe a better present would have been furniture...

Having found a place on the crate-table for her small box of cookies, she turns back to Darin find him frantically shushing her. She follows his line of sight and... is that head of lettuce looking at them?

...

THAT'S FASCINATING.

Zelda waves off Darin's concern with one hand and grabs the Purah Pad off her belt with the other. Oh she absolutely needs to get a picture of that weird lettuce. It's for science! Zelda readies the camera and creeps forward, trying not to startle the lettuce (well, and be quiet too).

[minorinpain]

The sack topples forward onto the floor as Zelda approaches, and the Saibamen crawls out, revealing that the "lettuce" is in fact a small little...creature. It does have a fairly plant-like look to it, except for the parts that aren't, like its eyes, teeth and the three claws on its hands and feet. It's small, too, like a young child.

And it is staring at Zelda. "A-gya?" It croaks as the Hylian princess' appearance stirs memories of its master and his instructions.

"Okay, remember. THIS is the target. See her? Blonde hair, pointy ears. When I nab her, I'm gonna need you to stick REAL close. You're my insurance policy. So you stick close and you don't let go, got it? Not unless I give the word. Ha! I'm gonna be RICH!"

This...is the the target. Master brought her here?

Stick REAL close.

Don't let go.

Not unless I give the word

Stick close

Don't let go

"GYAAAAAAAAA!"

The Saibamen darts to one side suddenly, scuttling with impressive speed. It darts around the princess and then leaps upwards. Zelda feels the little creature lock its arms around her shoulders while its legs wrap around her waist, clinging to her back.

And then it just...stays there. Good thing Nappa hadn't got to the "blow yourself up" contingency in his instructions yet.

"Gya! Gya-gya-gya!"

The snoring from above continues unabated, Nappa dead to the world. Redbull, the feline, recognizing this is going to Continue, sits up, stretches languorously and makes for an open window. He'll sleep on the roof tonight.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

H-Holy...! Whatever that thing was, it's way faster than Darin was expecting! Fortunately, he can follow its movements...but he can't figure out what it wants to do until...

Well, Zelda appears to be getting grappled. Or hugged.

Darin's about ready to dash over and rip the monster off of her but it just seems pretty content to koala itself onto Zelda.

Regardless, he stops a few paces away, clearly ready to step in.

"Hey...!" He hisses in a whisper.

"What should we do?? It looks like he just wants to hug you but I don't like the look in his eyes...!"

[multidisciplinary]

-SNAP!- -SNAP!- -SNAP!- The shutter on the Purah Pad's camera clicks quickly as Zelda jerks this way and that, trying to get a clear picture of the bizarre lettuce-with-a-body.

"Come on, hold still!" she hisses under her breath as she snaps blurry picture after blurry picture. Come on, little guy. This is for science!

But the lettuce ignores her. It's not interested in science. What it wants is...

...a hug, apparently.

Zelda makes a noise of surprise as it latches onto her, restricting her arms. She struggles experimentally against its hold, but she can barely move. It's got a pretty strong grip for such a little creature.

"Here!" Zelda waggles her wrist to motion for Darin's attention with the Purah Pad. "Take the Purah Pad and get a picture while it's not moving!"

Because that's clearly the highest priority right now.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Darin blinks once, twice, three times...

Wait, was Zelda not bothered by the lettuce-headed monster currently clamped onto her? What the hell even was that thing and why the hell was it up here in the attic? Darin's seen a lot of monsters in his time but never anything like this.

But...whatever it is...it seemed perfectly contented to hug Zelda.

Honestly? It had good taste.

Darin takes the Purah Pad and starts framing up a photo.

"Okay...uh. Here we go? Don't get any funny ideas, little guy..."

Darin starts to take pictures in rapid-fire succession, moving about Zelda like a trained photographer. He documents its size, its appendages, and tries to get some reasonable close-ups too.

They might have forgotten why they're here.

[minorinpain]

The Saibamen is quite content to stay latched onto Zelda's back. It watches Darin closely though, and he's right; it doesn't appear to have any other expression than an evil-looking little smirk. Downright unwholesome, it is.

Stay close. Don't let go. Those are master's instructions. The Saibamen cannot disobey. Literally not in its nature; they were designed to be obedient. But it's a Saiyan creation, not that Zelda or Darin know that, and as such, while obedient, it shares their unpleasant nature.

And Darin is annoying it. As he gets in for a close up of the Saibamen's face it watches...and then suddenly lashes out with one of those little clawed hands. It's still wrapped up right around Zelda with its other limbs.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAA! A-GYA-GYAAAA!" The little shit even waited for Darin to get in close.

From the loft above there's a sudden snort, a grunt, and then a shifting sound suggesting whoever is sleeping up above has rolled over.